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`~ : : a request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION under 37 C.F.R. 1.53 (b) (2).
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`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION COVER SHEET
`
`PTO/SB/16 (6/95) (Modified)
`EXPRESS MAIL NO.EL 721276844US
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`Docket Number
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`1383.041PRV
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`Type a plus sign ( +)
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`Name (last, first, middle mitial)
`
`INVENTOR(s)/APPLICANT(s)
`RESIDENCE (CITY, AND EITHER STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY)
`
`Menard, Raymond J.
`
`Hastings, Mmnesota
`
`VARIABLE DISTANCE RF TAG DISCLOSURE
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters max)
`
`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth
`P.O. Box 2938
`Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
`
`STATE I Minnesota
`
`I ZIP CODE I 55402
`
`Attn: David W. Black
`
`COUNTRY I United States of Amenca
`
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (check all that apply)
`
`XXX
`
`Specification
`
`Number of Pages
`
`3
`
`Drawmg(s)
`
`Number of Sheets
`
`Small Entity Statement
`
`Other (specify)
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check one)
`
`X)CX
`
`XXX
`
`A check or money order is enclosed to cover the Provisional filing fees
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any additional required fees or credit
`overpayment to Deposit Account Number: ~
`
`PROVISIONAL
`FILING FEE
`AMOUNT
`
`$150.00
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`The invention was made by an agency of the United States Government or under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.
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`Yes, the name of the US. Government agency and the Government contract number are:
`
`Rospoctfully rnbmiu.d,: / ) 9" 4
`SIGNATURE ~~ {~
`TYPED OR PRINTED NAME David W. Black
`
`Date _...,M""a""r-"'ch"-'2""8'""', .::;;20""'0'-'-l _ _ _
`
`REGISTRATION NO.
`
`_4=2=3.c...3=--1 _ _
`
`_ Additional inventors are being named on separately numbered sheets attached hereto.
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FILING ONLY
`
`IPR2020-00910
`Garmin, et al. EX1015 Page 1
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Raymond J. Menard
`In re PROVISIONAL Patent Application of:
`VARIABLE DISTANCE RF TAG DISCLOSURE
`1383.041PRV
`
`Docket No.:
`
`Title:
`
`BOX PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
`Commissioner for Patents
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`We are transmitting herewith the following attached items (as indicated with an "X"):
`
`X A PROVISIONAL Patent Application comprising:
`X Specification ( ]_ pgs, including claims numbered _L through .1._ ).
`X A check in the amount of $150.00 to cover the Provisional Filing Fee.
`Provisional Application Cover Sheet (1 page).
`('.;It
`r~ A return postcard.
`
`:;;;,i
`
`~Please charge any additional required fees or credit overpayment to Deposit Account No. 19-0743.
`
`;,SCHWEGMAN, LUNDBERG, WOESSNER & KLUTH, P.A.
`tI!.O. Box 2938, Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612-373-6900)
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`B y :~~~
`David W. Black
`Reg. No. 42,331
`
`;~:~xpress Mail" mailing label number: EL721276844US
`~;Date of Deposit: March 28, 2001
`r- 0This paper or fee is being deposited on the date indicated above with the United States Postal Service pursuant to 37 CFR 1.10, and is
`addressed to the Commissioner for Patents, Attn: BOX PROVISIONAL APPLICATION, Washington, D.C. 20231.
`
`(NEW FILING)
`
`IPR2020-00910
`Garmin, et al. EX1015 Page 2
`
`

`

`Variable Distance RF Tag Disclosure
`
`Introduction
`Disclosed herein is a first device, or radio frequency (RF) tag, that can be attached to an
`object, person or animal to provide information as to the distance between the first device and a
`second ( or home) device. When the distance between the first and second device exceeds a
`predetermined distance ( a specific range), then an alarm is triggered at the second device. The
`alarm may be an audible alarm. In one embodiment, the second device provides information
`relative to the location of the first device. The information may include directional and distance
`infonnation which may assist in locating the object, person or animal carrying the first device. It
`is believed that this teclmology may be of benefit in tracking luggage, pets, and people in a
`public location, such as a shopping mall. In one embodiment, the system uses a radio frequency
`transmission for monitoring a linear distance between two devices. The first device is a portable
`module and the second device may be either a portable or stationary module.
`In one embodiment, the first device includes a battery operated transmitter with a
`microprocessor. The transmitter broadcasts a signature which varies as a function of the distance
`from the device. In one embodiment, the first device includes a range setting control which
`allows the distance to be calibrated. In one embodiment, the first device includes a transceiver.
`In one embodiment, the second device may be coupled to a portable communication
`device such as a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant or other communication
`device. In one embodiment, the second device may be line powered. The second device
`includes a receiver coupled to a microprocessor. The second device includes a display, speaker,
`or vibratory mechanism to indicate that a particular predetermined range has been exceeded.
`Various means can be employed to determine the distance between the first and second
`device, including:
`a)
`range determined on the basis of signal strength. Signal strength drops as the cube of the
`distance and can be used to determine the range.
`range detennined using discrete global position information (GPS) modules. Each device
`includes a GPS receiver and in one or both devices, a calculation is performed to
`determine the range between the devices.
`range determined using timing differences ( each device has transceiver). A clock signal
`is used to determine the distance between each device. For example, a clock operating in
`one device is monitored while a signal is exchanged between the first and second device.
`Relative distance is based on the elapsed transit time for the signal.
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`In one embodiment, the first device is affixed to, or carried by, a first object or first
`person and the second device is affixed to, a second object or second person. The distance
`between the first and second objects is then monitored and displayed or annunciated, at the
`second object or to the second person. In one embodiment, if the distance exceeds a
`predetermined value, then an audible, vibratory, or visual message is presented using the second
`device.
`The first device may be attached to, or carried by, an object, person or animal. The first
`device includes a short range transmitter compatible with a protocol such as HomeRF™,
`Bluetooth™, or the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., (IEEE) 802.15 WPAN
`standard. In one embodiment, the transmitter is linked to a communication network, such as a
`
`1
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`IPR2020-00910
`Garmin, et al. EX1015 Page 3
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`' .
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`pager network or cellular network.
`BLUETOOTH® is a trademark registered by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson of
`Stockholm, Sweden and refers to technology developed by an industry consortium known as the
`BLUETOOTH® Special Interest Group. BLUETOOTH® operates at a frequency of
`approximately 2.45 GHz, utilizes a frequency hopping ( on a plurality of frequencies) spread
`spectrum scheme, and provides a digital data transfer rate of approximately I Mb/second. In one
`embodiment, the present system includes a transceiver in compliance with BLUETOOTH®
`technical specification version 1.0, herein incorporated by reference.
`In one embodiment, the present system includes a transceiver in compliance with
`standards established, or anticipated to be established, by the Institute of Electrical and
`Electronics Engineers, Inc., (IEEE). The IEEE 802.15 WPAN standard is anticipated to include
`the technology developed by the BLUETOOTH® Special Interest Group. WP AN refers to
`Wireless Personal Area Networks. The IEEE 802.15 WP AN standard is expected to define a
`standard for wireless communications within a personal operating space (POS) which encircles a
`person.
`In one embodiment, the transceiver is a wireless, bidirectional, transceiver suitable for
`short range, omnidirectional communication that allows ad hoc networking of multiple
`transceivers for purposes of extending the effective range of communication. Ad hoc networking
`refers to the ability of one transceiver to automatically detect and establish a digital
`communication link with another transceiver. The resulting network, known as a piconet,
`enables each transceiver to exchange digital data with the other transceiver. According to one
`embodiment, BLUETOOTH® involves a wireless transceiver transmitting a digital signal and
`periodically monitoring a radio frequency for an incoming digital message encoded in a network
`protocol. The transceiver communicates digital data in the network protocol upon receiving an
`incoming digital message.
`In one embodiment, the first device has a characteristic signature, or identification
`information, and the second device is responsive to this signature. The second device selectively
`monitors the distance separating the first and second device. The second device includes a
`transceiver compatible with the first device. The second device can monitor the RF signal from a
`single predetermined first device and ignore other devices in the area. The process may include
`security functions.
`In one embodiment, the range at which an alarm is sounded or triggered, that is, the
`trigger range, may be set manually or automatically. In alternative embodiments, the trigger
`range may be set using the first device or the second device. In one embodiment, the trigger
`range is set by physically placing the first device at a desired distance and actuating a button on
`the device or entering a voice command. The desired distance is then associated with a
`characteristic signal strength, or other measurable value, which then establishes a perimeter
`beyond which an alarm is sounded or a trigger signal is generated. If the distance between the
`first device and the second device exceeds the trigger range, then, in various embodiments,
`different methods may be executed. For example, in one embodiment, the RF range is increased
`and communications between the first and second device is reestablished. As another example,
`in one embodiment, the first device sends location information to the second device. The
`location information may include range and bearing or GPS coordinates. In one embodiment, an
`alarm is sounded on the second device showing the location of the first device. The alarm may
`include a sound, a light, a text message, or a vibratory message. As another example, a network
`
`2
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`Garmin, et al. EX1015 Page 4
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`connection to a wide, or narrow, area communication network may be used to determine the
`location of the first device.
`In one embodiment, the trigger distance is established by physically moving the first
`device to the a11owed perimeter distance and adjusting the signal transmission strength of the
`transmitter or the sensitivity of the receiver until a predetermined level is reached which then
`generates an alarm at the second device. Alternatively, preset signal strengths associated with
`various distances can be used. In various embodiments, either the receiver or the transmitter is
`adjusted.
`In one embodiment, when the devices indicate that the trigger range has been exceeded
`then the transmitter output signal is raised. In one embodiment, the RF range is not at the
`maximum at the perimeter of the range.
`The second device, or home device, may include a cell phone, a personal digital assistant
`(PDA) or pager and equipped with a transmitter compatible with HomeRF™, Bluetooth™, or
`IEEE 802.15 WPAN.
`Similar principles may be used to track items, objects, or persons that are normally
`out-of-range and that move into RF range. For example, two people in a dense crowd can locate
`each other using the present technology. If each person carries a Bluetooth™- equipped
`telephone, then this technology allows free voice or data communication between the telephones
`rather than cellular network-based communications.
`
`Representative claims and statement of the invention:
`
`1.
`
`A system comprising:
`a portable device having a first transceiver;
`a second device having a second transceiver compatible with the first transceiver;
`distance determining means adapted for determining a linear distance between the
`portable device and the second device;
`alarm means coupled to the second device; and
`comparison means coupled to the second device and adapted for receiving the linear
`distance and activating the alarm means if the linear distance exceeds a predetermined value.
`
`2.
`
`A method comprising:
`establishing a digital communication channel between a portable wireless device and a
`second wireless device;
`comparing the linear distance between the portable wireless device and the second
`wireless device with a predetermined value; and
`generating an alarm at the second wireless device if the linear distance exceeds the
`predetermined value.
`
`3
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`IPR2020-00910
`Garmin, et al. EX1015 Page 5
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